Layla's yellow shirt picture

I did what I promised myself I wouldn't do last year...I blinked.

I blinked and a whole year has gone by again. Layla got taller, her hair got longer...and curlier. She's talking like a real human being and learning new things everyday. She teases, she fibs and she loves to tell stories (the best stories I've ever heard). She's still dramatic, throws temper tantrums and acts "like a baby" but those are usually followed up by her going to her room and slamming her door, something I wasn't prepared for until the teenage years.

Last year I made a list of all the things we love about Layla. I thought about doing the same thing this year...but then started looking at last year's list and thought it would be fun to just "update" a few of those. Everything in black is from last year and green is this year:

- If given the option she would live off of chocolate, ice cream and crackers. Yep...this is still the case. Not sure this will EVER change.

- She likes to dance in the living room to Lady Gaga. Although Lady Gaga still holds a special place in her heart (her fav song is "bad kids" lol) she is starting to really like Queen. She can even identify the lullaby versions of Queen in the car!

- She must have 18 things in her crib to sleep with every night. No more crib but a bigger bed means more room for stuffed animals and blankets. I think this number has jumped to 53.

- She sings a song she made up about Oscar and Moose in her Dora microphone. No need for the microphone anymore, she'll sing made up songs loud and proud...anytime and anywhere! Especially in the bathroom at Home Depot

- Thinks it is hilarious to tickle herself under her arms. She thinks her "skeeter bites" are her elbows.

- The way she stands up when she's supposed to be in timeout and then slams her booty on the bench when we walk by. She doesn't even bother to pretend she's sitting down anymore. Getting more and more defiant by the day. 

- She talks with a Southern accent She still totally does this...I hope forever.

- The answer to "What do you say, Layla?" is always "More" (with the Southern accent) Now the answer is "please" or "thank you". Always.

- Every night she insists on running circles around our house and us scaring the pants off her She's starting not to like being scared anymore. But we do play LOTS of hide and seek in the dark, and dance parties.

- She loves to help put away laundry. And scrub the toilets, vacuum, and dust. Cinderella is her nickname.

- Prefers Eskimo kisses to "kisses on the lips. Prefers to blow kisses now. :( Or "just hugs"

- She sucks in all the air she can before we go out in the cold. For some reason THIS is the one that made me cry. Nope...she loves being in the cold/snow now.

- Her hair is so long when it is wet, and so short when dry. Her hair is down to the middle of her back wet and still touching her shoulders when it's dry.

- Row row row your boat and ma ma mommy is a bumble bee are her favorite songs. I can't even begin to list all the songs she knows and loves. Right now "oh Christmas tree oh Christmas tree" is her fav.

- Her biggest concern in life are the socks she threw behind her bed after nap (and I hope it stays that way forever). Her focus now is Jack. She really loves him and makes sure if he's crying, we know about it. She is such a big help and truly enjoys being a big sister.

So many changes, she's really grown up this past year. And to see just how much we took her annual yellow shirt picture:

As a recap...here were the last two:

Wow, she's changed so much. I love that we are doing this and that she was actually "into" it this year. Look how her feet are touching the floor and she actually needed her hair up to stay out of her eyes this time!

Now it's off to finish her 3rd year book and start one for next year. I can't imagine what kind of changes we'll see but one thing is for sure, her hair isn't getting straighter. And I kinda like it! ;o)